New Intelligent Parking Assist Jointly Developed with Toyota Motor Corporation Installed on Lexus LS460 (Sep. 29, 2006)

A new Intelligent Parking Assist system jointly developed by Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (President: Yasuhito Yamauchi; Headquarters: Kariya, Aichi) and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC; President: Katsuaki Watanabe; Headquarters: Toyota City, Aichi) has been installed on the Lexus LS460 introduced on September 19, 2006. In seeking to provide greater usability, the latest system employs vehicle detection technology jointly developed with TMC, using ultrasonic sensors* as well as AISIN’s image recognition technology using cameras.

The Intelligent Parking Assist system was initially fitted on the Toyota Prius in September 2003 as the world’s first system that supports drivers in parallel parking or backing into a parking space by establishing the target parking position via video images from a rear camera and controlling steering operations. The system was also installed on the Prius model launched in November 2005, with the added functionality of processing video images from a rear camera to recognize the location of parking space lines according to color contrast.

In combination with these functions, the new system introduced in the currently launched Lexus LS460 includes additional functionality using front ultrasonic sensors newly developed to detect the position of parked vehicles (the world’s first). Based on the information obtained, the new system can estimate the physical dimensions of vacant parking space and set the target parking position. This in turn improves usability by greatly simplifying the process of establishing the parking position and making adjustments by the driver.

In terms of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) related products, AISIN has been providing peripheral systems that employ its imaging processing technology, including the parking assist system, lane –keeping assist system, obstacle detection system and driver monitoring system, and will continue to strengthen the development of driving support systems in its constant pursuit of improving safety and convenience.

*Newly developed by Denso Corporation